Mass. man held in alleged threats to burn mosques

BOSTON -- A 44-year-old Wilmington man is being held without bail after he was arrested by federal agents Tuesday morning for allegedly making online threats to burn two area mosques and harm Muslims.

At his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Tuesday afternoon, Patrick Keogan walked into court wearing shackles, cargo shorts and a short-sleeved shirt.

He is charged with making a threat over Facebook to injure or intimidate another individual or to unlawfully damage or destroy a building by means of fire. He is also charged with being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition.

Meanwhile, Keogan will be interviewed by the Probation Department to share his personal circumstances so his attorney, federal public defender Jane Peachy, can try to argue for his release.

Federal prosecutor Scott Garland will argue that Keogan should be held without bail.

Federal officials allege that on Nov. 14, Keogan used Facebook to threaten to burn the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Roxbury, and posted the same threat on the Facebook page of the Islamic Society of Northeastern University.

Keogan was interviewed twice by the FBI before his arrest, according to an affidavit by Special Agent David S. Bell.

In March 2013, a Boston electrician reported Keogan, who was his apprentice, for making threats against Congress.

Advertisement

At that time, Keogan reportedly told the FBI "he is often vocal about his political beliefs, especially when drinking" and that "sometimes he "drinks too much."

The investigation also turned up a Facebook page he maintained that was derogatory toward Muhammad, the prophet of Islam.

Around Dec. 22, Keogan reportedly told the FBI he posted the mosque-burning pictures because he was upset about the terrorist attacks in Paris. Bell said Keogan apologized, admitted the posting was immature and said he had no intent to cause any harm to Muslims or damage to mosques.

On Jan. 22, the court authorized a warrant to search and seize data from Keogan's Facebook account. Around Feb. 9, Facebook complied and provided "voluminous account records" that confirmed he posted the threats to the ISBCC and ISNU pages.

In the records, the FBI found numerous posts approving of burning mosques going back to 2013, as well as derogatory posts about several minority groups and liberals.

The Facebook account also showed that Keogan continued to buy, possess, sell, trade, modify and shoot firearms and ammunition, despite being statutorily prohibited from such as a convicted felon.

In 2000, he was convicted of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor (second offense.) In 2006, he was convicted of assault and battery with a deadly weapon and sentenced to two years in prison, with 18 months committed and the balance suspended for three years.

Federal agents obtained a warrant to place a GPS on his spouse's car and tracked Keogan to a Plaistow, N.H., gun store around May 1. Keogan allegedly purchased two boxes of loose 8mm rifle ammunition and drove it back to his home in Wilmington. Agents also saw Keogan at a Marlboro gun show.

The Sun attempted to visit Keogan's home on State Street in Wilmington, but a police officer blocked traffic from coming onto the street. A detour sign was posted to redirect traffic to Belmont Avenue.

In 2010, Keogan was elected to Wilmington's Redevelopment Authority, which is no longer in existence, according to Town Clerk Sharon George. The Redevelopment Authority was inactive for years and had only one other member at the time, Sydney Kaizer, who is now deceased.

"They weren't doing any business when he was on it," George said. "It disbanded not long after that."

George said that as board members died and positions opened up, people did not run for election, resulting in the board's dwindling numbers. Keogan ran unopposed and won. She added that the board was active in the 1980s and 1990s, when there was a lot of redevelopment happening.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sentinel and Enterprise. So keep it civil.